Piano-action.



G. A. WHEELER.

PIANO ACTION. APPLICATION FILED MAB.23,1'909.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Elnuanloz Geage fl /1%ee /en I r M UNITED STATES GEORGE A. WHEELER, OE WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO-ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

App'licationfiled. March 23, 1909. SerialNo. 485,188.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vakefield, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sostenuto devices for piano actions, and comprises means for holding the dampers of the depressed keys off their strings, without interfering with the other parts of the action. The device will be particularly applied to the bass notes. and will be operated by third pedal.

The present device has the advantage that it is placed at the front of the action, in conveniently accessible position, and without parts apt to get out of order or to interfere with the rest of the action.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an upright piano action provided with the improved sostenuto device, with the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in active position. Fig. 3 is a partial front view.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the key of an upright piano action, 7 the sticker, and 8 the wippen; 9 is the damper lever actuated by the spoon 10 at the rear end of the wippen, these parts being found in well known piano actions.

The sostenuto device is operated by a pedal and acts to hold the dampers of the depressed keys off the strings by engaging under the front end of the wippen after the key is struck. The device comprises a sustaining rail 11 pivotally mounted at 12 upon brackets 13 frame of the action. This rail is rocked by alifter 1 1 operated by a third pedal (not shown). When the pedal is depressed the lifter 14; swings the rail inwardly, being connected to an arm 15 projecting from the front side of the rail. A spring 16 acts in opposition to the lifter to return the rail.

To the front side of the rail, and in alinement with the front end of each wippen is a stop or finger 17 pivoted at its lower end to a flange 18 fastened to the rail. A spring 19 presses the finger backwardly toward the wippen until it stops against the face of the which will be fastened to therail. The top of the finger has a leather covering 20 to prevent wear on the wood.

In the normal position of the parts the top of the finger 17 does not interfere with the movement of the wippen, and consequently does not affect the action. When the rail is swung in or back by pressure on the pedal the ends of the fingers 17 press against the front ends of the respective wippens, the springs 19 permitting the fingers to yield so that they will be ready to swing in under the front ends of the wippens when the latter are actuated by the keys. hen a key is depressed the front end of the wippen lifts as usual and the damper is lifted from the string; at the same instant the spring 19 of the corresponding finger causes the latter to spring or snap in under the front end of the wippen, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby holding said end of the wippen in raised position and accordingly holding the damper off the string until the pedal is released and the rail is permitted to rock back to normal position, when the wippen drops and the action resumes its normal condition. While the wippen is held in raised position the key and its capstan will simply drop away from the lower end of the sticker.

The pressure of the fingers 17 against the front ends of the wippen is not suflicient to prevent slip in consequent movement of the wippen when the keys are struck; consequently the device can be used either by depressing the pedal first or the key first. If the key is depressed when the pedal is operated the finger 17 corresponding to said key will simply swing in under the wippen and so hold the same in raised position; while if the pedal is depressed before the key is, the finger will yield against the tension of its spring 19 and will then spring in under the wippen as soon as the latter is lifted. This is decidedly advantageous as compared to those devices in which it is necessary to first strike the key.

I claim 1. In a piano action, the combination of a wippen, a movable sostenuto rail, and a yielding stop carried by the rail and arranged to engage the wippen and hold the same in raised position.

2. In a piano action, the combination of a wippen, a swinging sostenuto rail located adjacent the front end of the wippen, and a against the stop and tending; to force the same rearwardly under the front end of the Wippen When the latter is raised by depression of the key. 15

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE A. WHEELER.

WVitnesses:

MARGARET VVHEELER, ELMER C. RICHARDSON. 

